Corbett OKs millions for Philly school district

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett says the state will provide millions of dollars for the cash-strapped Philadelphia schools to allow them to open on time.

Corbett said Wednesday he will authorize $265 million in advance payments to the school district to allow schools to open "on day one" and help avoid layoffs. He said the money represents early disbursement of funds that the schools would normally receive through the academic year.

Corbett said he was disappointed that legislative leaders could not agree on a proposal to authorize the city to levy a $2-per-pack cigarette tax to general more than $80 million for the schools. The measure won preliminary votes in both houses but was stalled from passage due to disputes over the measure's other provisions.

Corbett said the cigarette tax still needs to get passed to assure longer-term funding.

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